PGA Tour 2020: Adam Scott wins Genesis Invitational: scores, final leaderboard
Adam Scott once wondered whether he would ever again win against the world’s best. He needn’t have worried. The Australian is back at his best after a drought-busting Genesis Open victory.
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When Adam Scott hits 40 in July, he’ll be at an age when only greats like Tiger Woods, Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player, Sam Snead and Ben Hogan win the Masters.
As thrilled as the classy Aussie is to beat golf’s finest at the Genesis Invitational in Los Angeles, the greatest value to these victory vibes are in his grander plan.
Scott is admirably honest about his career.
As brilliant as it is with the 2013 Masters triumph and this 14th win on the PGA Tour, he knows he should have won more.
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That’s why hitting this fresh peak by beating the top six players in golf and outdueling world No.1 Rory McIlroy in the final group means so much.
“I really do believe, if I can maintain motivation and focus, the next five years can be my best years on tour,” Scott said after his two-stroke win.
“It’s easy to say but harder to do but I need to do that to leave the game satisfied at some point.
“It’s incredible to win a tournament of this stature on a course of this stature and see my game holding up when it’s not easy.
“The big goal is to be a multiple major winner and the habit of winning is good for that.”
Scott’s fighting one-under-par 70 closed the deal among the eucalypts at revered Riviera Country Club on Monday morning (Australian time).
Scott (72-64-67-70) fought back from an early double bogey. McIlroy (73), a fading fifth, could not from a triple.
There was a curling birdie putt on the 13th and another on the 17th to keep his buffer but Scott knew where his championship nerve kicked in.
“I wanted to maybe bump the ball into the fringe on the (par four) 15th but I thought I can maybe win the tournament here if I hit a great flop shot,” Scott said.
He’d just knifed the ball across the green from a wicked poached egg lie in the bunker and was staring at a costly double-bogey if he didn’t play the long-swing flop just right.
It was perfect and he sunk his vital bogey putt.
Sinking 33m of putts on the final day was more than anyone in the field so he’s found what works with his temperamental long putter.
To win against young guns like Justin Thomas, Brooks Koepka and co, you have to be this precise.
“Just being all right doesn’t really get it done, you’ve got to be pretty much sensational,” Scott said.
It was Scott’s first trophy on the PGA Tour for nearly four years since back-to-back wins in Florida in early 2016 and he’ll rise to world No.6.
😃😃😃ðŸ†ðŸ†ðŸ† pic.twitter.com/greEDRHKZq
— Ben Everill (@BEverillPGATOUR) February 16, 2020
It converted all the confidence from his Australian PGA breakthrough on the Gold Coast just days before Christmas.
Scott’s best shot at winning another major is at the Augusta or on a firm British Open layout using his creative game.
“Everyone tells me I’m turning 40,” Scott said with a wry smile.
“I don’t know if they are insinuating that it’s the beginning of the end.”
Hopefully, this isn’t the beginning of the end but the beginning of a new burst of constantly contending in majors.
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